Sorting device



L. L. JONES SORTING DEVICE Filed March 28,

3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 25, 1932. L. L. JONES 1,884,718

SORTING DEVICE Filed March 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 261'. .Ezg -2 T 7; 74

INVENTOR f wllmk i 7 J? 7 74 ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1932. L.. JONES 1,884,713

SORTING DEVICE Filed March 28, 1928 a Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY iii Patented a. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LYMAN L. JONES, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SORTING DEVICE Application filed March 28, 1928. Serial No. 265,304.

This invention relates to a sorting device to be used in connection with can ends or similar articles and has more particular reference to such a device to be used in conjunction with forming machinery whereby imperfect ends are removed from further processes of manufacture.

By the sorting of can ends and similar articles, I mean sorting with respect to quality. In the manufacture of such articles, if a sheet of metal is improperly fed to a forming press an imperfect blank or formed end is the result. The most common imperfection of this nature is whatis knownas a clip, resulting from the forming die overlapping the opening made by the removal of the end previously made, thereby producing a blank which does not have a completely circular edge. Another very common imperfection is what is termed a cracked flange or cracked panel end caused by cracks forming in the metal due to strains set up during the forming process. As such defective ends are useless, they must be sorted from the good ends before they are assembled into a finished product, and this invention has for an object the provision of a machine which will test the ends and separate the good from the bad.

Another object is to provide a machine in which the rejection. of bad ends is automatic.

Another object is to provide such a machine having control devices which regulate the feeding of can ends to the testing device, whereby the feeding of an excess quantity to the machine above its capacity is prevented, and whereby the testing and sorting mechanism proper is held inoperative unless and until a sufficient number of articles to be tested are present in the magazine.

Another object is to provide such a machine with control devices which will insure the proper quantity of ends being present in the machine and which will control the feeding means of an associated machine.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In general, the machine embodying my invention functions as follows:

Formed can ends are positively fed into a magazine in stacked formation, the testing and sorting mechanism being inoperative until a su'fiicient number of ends are positioned within the machine to insure the proper functioning of the testing and sorting mechanism. When this testing and sorting mechanism is made operative, it removes ends singly from the bottom of the magaz ne and deposits them in one of two places, depending upon the condition of-the end, that is, whether it is good or bad. This control of the operation of the testing and sorting device is accomplished by means of mercury switches located inacontrol box, which is moved to various positions by the height of the stack of can ends in a magazine. Provision is also made to stop the feeding of can ends to the machine if the number in the stack becomes in excess of the capacity of the machine, this action also being controlled by the same mercury switches within the control box.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sideelevation, partly in section of my improved sorting device;

Fig. 2 is a planview of the testing and sorting mechanisms as seen from beneath;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 22 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a partial elevation, part sectional detail of the can end removing device taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig; 4 isa cross-sectional detail of the sorting device illustrating the removal of a can end from the magazine, the view being taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail of the control box;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail of can ends being fed to the magazine when it contains a quantity in excess of the capacity of the machine, and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are wiring diagrams for the various controls associated with the machine.

My machine is particularly well adapted to be used in direct conjunction with the forming presses or curlers which form the can ends. The formed can ends 21 are fed from these forming machines into a chute 22, the lower part of which contains an enclless conveyor belt 23. This belt is provided with spaced flights or buttons 24, which are adapted to engagethe can ends and positively project them into a magazine 31, and is 0perated over pulleys 25 and 26 carried upon shafts 27 and'28, respectively, the pulley 26 being the active drive pulley which is continuously rotated. The shafts 27 and 28 are journalled in a bracket 29 secured to and projecting from the magazine 31. As the can ends near the lower end of the chute 22, they engage beneath a-rider 32 and are projected thereunder. This rider is secured to an arm 33 which in turn is secured to an arm 34, the arm 34 being pivoted to the bracket 29, as'at 35. A weight'36 is provided above and attached to the rider 32to keep it in firm contactwith the can end sliding there under. "This is to insure the can end being positioned within the magazine when the magazine is full to cause thetopmost cover inthe magazine to raise and tilt the contact box 42 and thus stop further feeding to the magazine; f V

The contact box 42 is mountedupon an arm 43, pivoted tothe bracket 29, as at 44, and has an arm 41 extending downwardly into the magazine 31 to engage can ends therein under certain conditions. Within the contact box are two tubes 45 and 46, carried in clips 47 and 48,.respectively, attached tothe cover 49 (Fig 5). These two tubes 45 and 46 are mercury switches, which are well-known and of which no description is believed necessary, and: have their respec tive longitudinal aXes placed at an angle, as clearly shown in Figs. 5, 7,8 and'9. i a In operation,formed can ends 21 are'projected into the/magazine 31 and piled one uponanother. Duringfthe original charging of the magazine,.the testing andsortingdevice is delayed, as will be described later, since a number of can endsshould be in the magazine before the testing and sorting device'will function properly. During this charging period, the stack is supported upon-blades or fingers 37 (Fig. 4), attached to bails or yokes 38, which-are hinged 'tozthe sides of the magazine, as at 39. Two of these yokes are provided, one for each side of the magazine, and are arranged to open outwardly. A coil spring 79 2) is stretched between these two yokes to maintain them normally in; such a position that'the blades will project into the bottom of the magazine to support the stack and to give the yokes a positive return when they are moved from this normal position; As the stack is built up to the correct operating capacity, theuppermjost cover engages the arm 41 of the contact box raising it about the pivot point 44, which causes the mercury switches to tilt, and the switch 46 closes a cirend of the arm 51. A pinion gear 57 is formed on the shaft 52 and is partially surrounded by a guard and guide '61. This pinion gear is actuated by a rack portion 58 of a rack bar 59, one end of which terminates in a rod 62, the end of whichis threaded to receive nuts 62. A collar 66 is provided at the shoulder formed by the junction of the bar 59 and the rod 62. A sleeve'63 is positioned about the shaft 62 near one end and is pivotally connectcdfto the drive pulley 26, as at 64. A coil spring 65 surrounds the rod 62 and extends between the collar 66 and one end of the sleeve 63, the spring urging thesleeve against the nuts 62 but allowing for a certain amount of lost motion between the sleeve and the rod under certain conditions. The reason for this will become clear as the action of the testing device is explained. a

The vacuum disc 67 has a depressed central portion 68, which hasa vent 71. at its center communicating with thepassage 72 extendingthrough the interior of the arm 51. A rubber gasket 69 is securely attached to the periphery of the disc 67', providing an airtight resilient seat for can ends placed upon the disc. Arms78 project from the under side of the disc and'carry adjustable. screws 77, positioned to come in contact with the bails 38, previously described, to move them upwardly and outwardly as the disc is positioned within the bottom of the magazine. hen the machine is in operation, testing and sorting can ends, the disc is positioned within the bottom of the magazine by the action of the arm 51, the pinion 57, the bar 59, the rod 62 and the pulley 26, and as it reaches this position, the bails 38 and the blades 37 are thrown out of the way and the entire stack of can ends in the magazine rests upon the rubber gasket on the vacuum disc. As the disc moves into this position, the passage 72 in the arm which opens into the passage 73 in the shaft 52 is brought into communication with a tube 74 in the fixedbearing 55, the tube 74 being attached to a hose 75 or other suitable means connected to a source of vacuum. Due to the weight of thestack of can ends, the bottom end is firmly pressed against the rubber gasket-and forms, together with the depressed portion 68 of the disc, a chamber 76, which becomes a vacuum chamber through the actions previously described. As the disc recedes, due to the actuating mechanism, the bails 38 and the blades 37, under the action of the spring 79, move together and engage beneath the lowermost of the bottom ends remaining in the stack and again form a sup port therefor.

If the can end thus removed is defective, air will leak into the chamber 76 and break the vacuum, permitting the can end on the disc to slide off due to the combined action of gravity and centrifugal force at a point in the travel of the disc, such as is designated at A in dotted lines in Figure 1, where it will be caught by a chute 81 and be conveyed to a receptacle orother means for the removal of defective ends. It should be understood that before the disc has reached this point, the passage 73 is cut off from the tube 74 so that the air leak does not need to overcome a constant vacuum pull. If, however,

the end is perfect, it will be held to the disc-' until carried past the chute 81 to a point near the end of the travel of the disc 67. Means are provided to break the vacuum at this point, as will now be described.

A lever 83 is carried on the arm 51 (Figs. 2 and and is freely pivoted thereto, as at 84. One end of this lever engages a rubber seat 85 surrounding a vent 86 opening through the bottom of the disc 67 into the vacuum chamber 76. A leaf spring 87. is secured to the arm 51, as at 88, to normally hold the lever 83 against the seat 85, sealing the chamber 76. The other end of the lever can ries a projection 89 which rides over a portion of a cam secured upon the bushing 54. As the disc nears the end of its downward stroke, the projection 89 engages a lug 91 on the cam, which causes the lever 83 to be rotated about its pivot 84 and open the valve 85, allowing air to enter the vent 86. This breaks the vacuum and permits the perfect end to fall upon a second chute 82 designed to receive such perfect ends. a

It is believed obvious from the foregoing that the weight of the stack in the magazine is utilized to aid in securing a perfect seal for the vacuum, and accordingly that the machine will not function to the best advantage in the absence of such a stack. However, unless some means are provided to prevent its doing so, the disc 67 would be positioned within the magazine at each revolution of the pulley 26 and would accordingly come in contact with the bottom can end therein. To prevent this and to enable the building up of a suitable stack in the mega zine, I provide the following mechanism:

An arm 92 (Figs. 1 and 2) is attached to the hub of the arm 51, extending radially from the shaft 52, substantially at right angles to the arm 51, and this arm 92 swings with the arm 51. Another arm 93 is pivoted, as at 94, to a bracket 95, which is adjustably attached to the bracket 29 by screws 96 and 97. This adjustable bracket also carries an electromagnet 103, controlled by the tube 46 in the contact boa: 42, the magnet being positioned so as to be able to actuate the arm 93. The arm 93 has an integral upwardly extending part 99 carrying a weight 98 which acts as a counterbalance to render the arm 93 more susceptible to the action of the magnet 103, but it is to be understood that when the arm 93 is not acted upon by the magnet it will remain in a lowered position. When it is in this lowered position, it is in the path of the arm 92. Since this blocks the travel of the arm 92, it blocks the travel of the arm 51 and is so adjusted that it keeps the vacuum disc 67 from beingpositioned within the bottom of the magazine 31 or actuating the bails 38. The pulley 26, however, keeps on revolving, but the spring 65 and the sleeve 63 allow a certain amount of give as heretofore explained and-the feed of covers to the maga zine is uninterrupted. As the stack increases in size, the electromagnet 103 becomes energized pulling the arm 93 out of the path of the arm 92 and thus permitting the removal of ends from the magazine.

It sometimes happens, however, that the supply flowing into the magazine is in excess of the capacity of the sorting device and it is desirable to stop further feeding until this excess is reduced. lVhile this can be done in a number of different ways, I preferto accomplish it by stopping the feed of material to the preceding forming machine by an electric control.

The electric control of the magnet 103 and the forming machinery is clearly set forth in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. For controlling the preceding machinery, I prefer to use a device for starting or stopping the feeding mechanism and this is diagrammatically illustrated by an arm 108 which is held operative by an electromagnet, a spring returning the arm to an inoperative position if the magnet becomes deenergized. As previously described, the control box: 42 contains two mercury switches 45 and 46. The mercury switch 45' controls the preceding machinery and is wired thereto by wires 112, 111, 105, 107 and 113, the wires 105 and 107 leading to opposite sides of a source of electromotive power 106. The tube 46 controls the magnet 103 and is connected thereto by wires 102, 104, 105, 107 and 101, and it is to be noted that two of these wires are the same as used in the previous connection and connecting with the generator 106. lVhen the operation is started, the arm 108 controlling the feeding of the forming machinery, is brought under the influence of a magnet 109 which will hold the arm in an operative position since it is energized by a current flowing through the generator 106, the wires 107 and 113, the mercury switch 45, the wires 112, 111 and 105,the

switch at this point being practically horizontal (as shown in Fig. 7). The switch i6 is tilted and no current passes therethrough, hence the magnet 103 is deenergized and the sorting and testing is not operated. As the ends pile up in the magazine to a point at which the capacity for correct operation is reached, the contact box 42 is lifted andtilted to a position as shown in Fig. 8. This'tilts the switch 46 sufficiently to establish a contact therethrough and the magnet 103 becomes energized, allowing the operation of the testing and sorting mechanism. While this action tilts the switch 45, it is not tilted sufficiently to break the contact therethrough and the magnet 109 is still'energized, keeping the arm 108 in an operative position. If an excess of ends is fed into the magazine, the

contact box 42 is still further liftedand tilted,

as shown in Fig. 9. By this time, the switch 45 is tilted sufiiciently to break the contact between the wires 11 2 and 113 and so deenergizes themagnet 109, allowing the arm 108 to return'to' an inoperative position and thus stopping the machinery which it con trols. At the same time, the switch 46 is brought to a substantially horizontal position so that the current still flows through wires 101 and 102 and the magnet 103 continues to be energized, and the removal of the can ends from the magazine is continued until enough have been removed to lower the contact box to the position shown in Fig. 8 when the sorting and testing device is again rendered inoperative.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, audit will be apparent thatvarious changes may be madein the form, construction and arrange ment of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for testing and sorting can ends and in combination therein, means to test and sort said can ends, said means comprising a swinging vacuum disc, and means to feed can ends to said disc and position the ends thereon.

2. In a machine for testing and sorting can ends andin combination therein, means to test and sort said can ends, said means comprising aswinging vacuum disc, and means to feed can ends to said disc and position the ends thereon, said last-mentioned means comprising a receptacle in which a stack of can ends is positioned.

In a testing and sorting device and in combination therewith, a receptacle for articles to be tested, means to feed articles into said receptacle, means controlling the feed of articles into said receptacle, means for moving. articles from the receptacle, said lastmentioned means testing and sorting the articles removed from the receptacle, and means associated with the feed control means for governing the action of moving and testing.

4. In a devicefor testing and sorting can covers and the like and in combination therewith, a magazine to contain said covers, means for feeding covers to said magazine, and mercury switch mechanism associated with said magazine and controlled by excess of covers in said magazine to stop the supply of said covers to said magazine.

5. In a machine for testing and sorting can ends and the like and in combination therewith, a .magazine to receive and distribute said ends, means for feeding can ends to said magazine, and electric means combined therewith and having an electric switch engaged and operated by an excess of can ends in the magazine to stop the feeding of can ends to said magazine.

6. In a machine for testing and sorting metal can ends and the like and in combination therewith, a magazine providing temporary storage for said ends, a feed device to convey ends to said magazine, a device for removing. said ends from the magazine and testing and sorting the ends, and electric controlmeans whereby the quantity of ends in the magazine is automatically regulated.

7. In a machine for testing and sorting metal can ends and the like and in combination therewith,.a magazine providing temporary storage for said ends, a feed device to 1 convey ends to said magazine, a device for removing said ends fromv the magazine and testing and sorting the ends, and electric controlled means whereby the removing device is held in aninoperativeposition until the mag azine contains a predetermined quantity of ends" and the feed device is automatically stopped when this predetermined number is exceeded.

8. In a machine for testing and sorting tops and bottoms for metal cans and the like and in combination therewith, means to test and sort said covers, said means comprising an oscillatable disc adapted to maintain a perfect cover thereon by vacuum, from which disc an imperfect cover will be released by leakage of air to said disc, and means for admitting air to said disc to release a perfect cover.

9. In a machine for testing and sorting can covers and the like and in combination therewith, means to test and sort the can covers, said means comprising a plate mounted upon a rotatable arm, said plate having a depressed center, and a vent therein operatively connected to a vacuum producing means, said plate being adapted to maintain a vacuum with perfect covers to deliver said covers to a predetermined point at which said vacuum is automatically broken.

,, 10. In a testing and sorting machine and in Combination therewith, a device to test and sort articles placed in a machine, said device comprising a plate mounted upon a rotary oscillatable arm, said plate having a depressed surface inwardly from its periphery, a vent in said depressed surface communicating with a vacuum chamber, a second valve controlled vent communicating with the atmosphere, and means to open said last-mentioned valve controlled vent at a predetermined point in the travel of said arm.

11. In a machine for testing and sorting can covers and the like and in combination therewith, a mechanism for simultaneously testing and sorting said covers, said mechanism comprising a suitably mounted rotary oscillatable arm; a plate mounted thereon, said plate having a depressed surface inwardly from its periphery, a vent in said depressed surface communicating through said arm to a vacuum source, a second valve controlled vent communicating directly to the atmosphere; means to oscillatably rotate said arm and plate, said means being yieldably connected to its driving means, a cam controlled means mounted upon said arm to open the said second vent in the plate at a given point in the rotation of the arm; and means also mounted upon said arm to prevent said arm from moving through its complete path and hence prevent the plate from receiving a cover to be tested.

12. In a machine for testing and sorting can covers and the like and in combination therewith, a magazine for temporarily storing covers, and means associated therewith for delivering said covers to a testing and sorting device, said means comprising a plurality of yokes pivotally attached to said magazine, blades carried by each of said yolies, said blades engaging the undermost cover in the magazine, means carried by the testing device to remove said blades from said engagement to permit the positioning of said undermost cover upon said testing device, and means to cause said blades to reengage another undermost cover as the testing device recedes.

13. In a machine for testing and sorting can ends and the like and in combination therewith, a magazine for storing said can ends, a testing device for said can ends, and means associated with said magazine to deliver the can ends to the testing device, said last-mentioned means comprising a plurality of yokes pivotally attached to said magazine and embracing the lower external extremity thereof, supporting means comprising blades carried by said yokes, the blades engaging the bottom of the undermost can end and supporting the entire stack in the magazine thereby, adjustable means borne by said testing device to engage said yokes to remove the supporting blades from engagement with said undermost can end, and means for causing the blades to return as the testing device recedes and engage the bottom of the next presented undermost can end in the magazine.

14. In a machine for testing and sorting can ends and the like and in combination therewith, a magazine for temporarily storing said ends in the machine, means positioned in the lower end of the magazine to engage the lowermost cover therein and thereby support the entire stack in the magazine, means to feed said covers into the magazine, means to automatically control the feed and discharge of the magazine whereby a constant predetermined quantity of ends is maintained in said magazine, a testing device to test and sort said ends discharged from the magazine, said testing and sorting being accomplished by vacuum, and means upon said testing device to cooperate with the betorementioned supporting means whereby said covers are removed singly from the magazine.

15. In a machine for testing and sorting container parts which are formed in an associated machine, in combination, means for holding container parts to be tested, cooperating testing and sorting means, and mer cury switch mechanism actuated by the quantitative presence of container parts in said holding means to control the feeding of container parts in the associated forming machine.

16. I11 a machine for testing and sorting container parts, in combination, means for holding container parts to be tested, testing and sorting means cooperating therewith, and mercury switch mechanism actuated by the quantitative presence of container parts in said holding means to control the operation of said testing and sorting means.

17. A device for testing and sorting can ends and the like and in combination therewith, a magazine to contain a plurality of can ends or the like in stack formation, and movable suction means for holding and removing can ends successively from the bottom of said stack and movable to a plurality of discharge stations, said device sorting said can ends and delivering imperfect ends at one of said stations and perfect can ends at another.

LYMAN L. JONES. 

